Monday, August 4, 2014

August 4, 1921: KDKA
in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was the first private radio station in the United
States to broadcast a match of tennis
over the airwaves. The broadcasting of sporting events on the radio could
bring large profits. Broadcast
of the Davis Cup match between Great Britain and Australia made many listeners of
KDKA wonder, "Is tennis on the same level as boxing?"

In the match, Great Britain was
defeated by Australia. The match was reported by Arlin, from Pittsburgh's
Allegheny Country Club in suburban Sewickley.

In the beginning of radio broadcasting, some sporting event organizers paid the broadcasters for having their event on the radio. Later on, the situation was switched: some
broadcasters paid organizers for the license of the aired program as
compensation for their loss because of the decrease in stadium attendance.